The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-08-20

cended and rcsounded strangely in the
silence of the metropolis. She said:
"Our mother who is in heaven"
She took the rosebush that she had
placed near her and kissed the flowers
one by one; then, with her nails,
around which small drops of blood ap-
peared, she dug hole, in which she
deposited the plant.
Behind her, unconscious Of what he
was doing, Jean has removed his hat;
but, as if ashamed Of his sensibility.
he replaced it on his head and called
himself "an old fool" and deciding to
end that business. he put his hands
rudely on the child's shoulders, made
her face him and said:
II catch you, little thief"
Frightened, seeming to awake from
a nightmare, the child looked at him;
she saw his angry face and his big
laundering voice calling her "little
thief" Then she cried aloud, wanted
to escape, while paralyzed with fear
she remained as nailed in the ground,
her teeth chartered and her big blue
eyes rested on the old soldier.
This one had softened the tone Of
his voice; now, it seemed impossible to
him that this little tiny, handsome
head could belong to thief, and
searching the expressions of her face,
fearing to brighten her, he put caress-
ing infection in his words. The child
did not answer his questions; then
anger regained him and he raised bis
hand, crying to her:
Speak. or else"
He did not finish his phrase, as, with
out attempting to avoid the coming
blow designed, the child bent her head,
the Waterman lowered his arm, and
his face turned crimson as if he had
done bad action.
The child moved her lips; she wanted
to speak, but the sobs, strangling,
smothering her, prevented her from
articulating a word. Only some harsh
cries, unintelligible sounds, came out
from her throat. Frustrated with emo
ton, she fell heavily on her knees,
stretching forth her arms, and with her
finger yet black with earth making
desperate gesture she showed the grave
on which expanded the roses to the
Waterman.
Jean did not comprehend, his anger
was gone before this child of sorrow;
he forgot Ills grief against her, took
her in his arms and lovingly he said to
her,
Hush! hush! my dear. l will not
hurt you; look at me. / AM not a bad
man! Hush! do not cry any more, and
tell me why you take the peoples Aow-
ers to bring them here?"
The child, treasured by the kindness
of Jean, with rafting in her throat,
replied:
my mamma loved the flowers so
much, monsieur"
A sob interrupted her speech. Gath
ering all her strength, she continued:
"She is dead, my mamma, monsieur:
the men have put her in dark hole,
and want to bring plenty Of flowers
to her.
"And your father?' asked the watch.
man.
The child fixed her eyes, filled with
establishment, on the soldier without
answering.
He waited moment, expecting to
hear that the child's father was either
sick or dead Then he renewed his
question::
my sweet, dear, little one, where is
your father?'
"My father' lido not know. know
only my mamma-nobody else but my
mamma, monsieur. Please do not for
bid me from bringing flowers to my
mamma"
Abruptly the Waterman caught the
little girl in his strong arms, pressed
her to his old soldiers heart and, sob
bling in his turn, he covered with kisses
that tiny head. which instinctively
nestled close to his face.
"Why did you not speak, tramp that
you are? All! your mother loved the
flowers, embryo of rascal, then you
shall steal them no more. Come with
me; my garden is full Of handsome
roses, etc. We will uproot them all,
and we will bring them to your NAM
maj
"True? true? is it truep' exclaimed
the little one, her face radiant with
pleasure; and with her thin arms she
clasped the bronze neck of the old
Waterman, kissed him passionately,
and repeated with an infinite tender.
ness:
'Oh, how l love thee!'
Then seriously she let 60 her hold OF
jeans neck, knelt, and her eyes turned
toward Heaven, her face beaming with
joy. she recited loudly her own prayer:
'Our mother who is in Heaven!'
And the soldier knelt at her side,
murmuring: e.....at
Thunder! and to say that I do mo-
know q single word Of prayer, but nj
matter, will repeat with that angel
"Our mother who is in Heaven!''